Gaynor Lord dies in tragic incident in Norwich
Gaynor Lord dies in tragic incident in Norwich
Coroner investigates death of Gaynor Lord, 55, found in river – Obituary
Gaynor Lord, a 55-year-old mother of three, was found deceased in the River Wensum after a week-long search by police. An inquest revealed that she had recently watched a television program about cold water swimming prior to her disappearance.
Ms. Lord, who was undergoing hormone replacement therapy for menopause and taking medication for epilepsy, was last seen leaving her job in Norwich city center on December 8. She left her personal belongings, including clothing, in a nearby park.
During the inquest held by Norfolk’s senior coroner, Jacqueline Lake, evidence was presented indicating that Ms. Lord had intended to enter the water but did not have the intention to end her life. Her clothing and personal items were found in Wensum Park, and CCTV footage captured her at various locations around the city before her disappearance.
On December 15, specialist divers located her body submerged 2.5 meters in the river. Detective Sergeant Mike Cox reported that no signs of alcohol or illegal substances were found in her system, and there was no indication of assault.
In a statement read at the inquest, her husband, Clive Lord, shared that Gaynor had discussed the cold water swimming program with him and a friend. He speculated that in a confused state, she might have entered the water without fully considering the consequences. He expressed uncertainty about why she chose Wensum Park, a location they had not frequented before.
The coroner noted that although Ms. Lord’s mental health had been stable earlier in the year, there were indications she had recently acted out of character. On the day of her disappearance, she sent a message reading “help” to a deceased contact and mentioned feeling “crazy” and “fearful.”
Additionally, Ms. Lord experienced a significant seizure just days before she went missing, which could have contributed to her state of mind. Despite her previous mental health episode in 2011, the coroner concluded that there was no formal diagnosis of mental illness.
The cause of death was determined to be drowning, with the coroner expressing condolences to Ms. Lord’s family during the inquest.
Gaynor Lord dies in tragic incident in Norwich Coroner investigates death of Gaynor Lord, 55, found in river – Obituary Gaynor Lord, a 55-year-old mother of three, was found deceased in the River Wensum after a week-long search by police. An inquest revealed that she had recently watched a television program about cold water swimming…
Gaynor Lord dies in tragic incident in Norwich Coroner investigates death of Gaynor Lord, 55, found in river – Obituary Gaynor Lord, a 55-year-old mother of three, was found deceased in the River Wensum after a week-long search by police. An inquest revealed that she had recently watched a television program about cold water swimming…